My Metric for Success? Happiness
John Lennon said: “When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” I find this sentiment to be so incredibly powerful and true.
Too many people measure how successful they are by how much money they make or the people that they associate with. In my opinion, true success should be measured by how happy you are.
You might find it odd to learn that some of the toughest times of my life correspond with moments where I have made a lot of money. I will never forget the sorrow I felt when we sold Virgin Records. I ran down Ladbroke Grove in London with tears streaming down my face. We had to sell – just as we’d signed Janet Jackson and the Rolling Stones – so that we could keep Virgin Atlantic afloat. In that moment, despite having a cheque for a billion dollars in my pocket, I felt like very sad. When you build something from scratch and have a wonderful time learning, growing and laughing with the people that have helped you turn that business into something extraordinary, no amount of money can make you feel happy about selling. However, this money can be used to fund exciting new projects, and grow your brand further – something I wrote about in the aftermath of Virgin America’s deal with Alaska Airlines.
It’s a common misconception that money is every entrepreneur’s metric for success. It’s not, and nor should it be. I’ve never gone into business to make money. Every Virgin product and service has been made into a reality to make a positive difference in people’s lives. And by focusing on the happiness of our customers, we have been able to build a successful group of companies. The simple fact is, if you do good and have fun, the money will come.
Likewise, I’ve never felt successful because of my encounters with famous faces and names. While I’m incredibly grateful that I get to meet fascinating people and change makers, there’s nowhere that I feel more content or special then when I’m with my family. My family are my greatest achievement. When they are happy, I am happy, and that make me feel so successful.
I know I’m fortunate to live an extraordinary life – I’ve been knighted, met the most extraordinary people, and attended the most amazing events – but there’s never been a point in my career in which I’ve felt I’ve “made it”. I’ve never thought as work as work and play as play – to me, it’s all living and learning. The way I see it, life is all about striving and growing. I never want to have made it, I want to continue making it!
One of the things that makes me most happy is being able to give back, which is why we started our not-for-profit foundation, Virgin Unite, to support the next generation of entrepreneurs and create real lasting change in the world. It’s also why my wife Joan and I joined Bill Gates and Warren Buffet’s Giving Pledge, to dedicate the majority of our wealth to good causes.
Happiness isn’t just how I measure my success; it’s also the key to it. Most people would assume my business success, and the wealth that comes with it, have brought me happiness. But I know I am successful, wealthy and connected because I am happy. I wholeheartedly believe that happiness should be everyone’s goal.
Life’s too short to waste your time doing things that don’t light your fire. If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, or aren’t having a lot of fun – despite the fact that you’re making a lot of money or rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous – then it’s time to move on to the something that does make you happy.
Author:
Published by
Commercial Hard Money
80% LTV
Bridge Loans
- Close in 5-7 Days
- 80% ++ LTV
- Loan Terms from 3 months to 5 yrs+
- Rates Starting in the 7’s
- Interest Only
- All Property Types
Fast and Easy
Ebizmore for all your investment real estate financing needs.
Learn More – Do More – Earn More with ebizmore
Subprime SBA Loans
- 550+ credit scores and flexible underwriting
- Loans from $30,000 to $23,000,000
- No hard collateral required under $500,000
- 6.75% to 8.75% rates and 10 to 25 year amortizations
- 1 year min. time in business and most industries considered
- Working capital, real estate or business purchase, equipment or inventory purchase, renovations and more…
- Monthly Loan Payments
- No Prepay Penalty
- Consolidation
- Construction Finance
Commercial Finance
Land and Construction
We Have Billions Ready to Lend.. Across All Programs
Stick Or Modular! Vacant or Existing Structure!
We will fund up to 90% to buy the land or existing structure..+++++the build costs. No Caps!
- *1–4 unit family properties
- *12–24 month terms
- *Loans range from $250,000–$2.5 million
You Need It
Business Loans
- Merchant Cash Advance
- Business Term Loans
- Equipment Financing
- Business Lines of Credit
- SBA
- Purchase & Receivable Factoring
- Start Up
_______________
Non-Profits
Real Estate Sales
Auto sales
Lawyers
Gas Station
Farming
Construction
Contractors
Trucking
Day Care Advertising Marketing
Floor
Fence
Roofing, Restaurants
R.E. Management
Consultanting
Insurance
and much more
_______________
Unsecured
Secured
Limited Doc
Full Doc
Fast Funding
Monthly Payments
Starter Programs
Bad Credit
We Got It
Now You Can Too
EBIZMORE
Things Happen!
We understand the peaks and valleys of running a business and the toll it can take on your credit score, but we are here to help.
Whether as a realtor your credit needs help or it’s a client, the reward of good credit can be beneficial.
Check
Challenge
Change
We will also help you establish new Credit.
Stop Over Paying on Rates and Insurance!
Get Started Today